Dorothy Lupkes

Funeral Service for Dorothy Wilhelmina Lupkes, age 90, of Wheaton, Minnesota will be held Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Pastor Tim Shekleton officiating. Organist will be Cheryl Shekleton with special music provided by Celeste Lupkes and Dennis Johnson. Pallbearers will be Grant Strader, Luke Schmitz, Reed Schmitz, Carl Warnock, Samuel Lupkes, Phillip Sherwood, Shea Julson, George Lupkes and Cullen Strader. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dorothys Granddaughters and Great-Grandchildren. Interment will be in Wildwood Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held Friday evening, May 4, 2012 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service and Time of Sharing at Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Funeral Service on Saturday morning. Dorothy Wilhelmina Johnson was born January 29, 1922 in Wheaton, Minnesota to Carl Victor and Alma E. (Peterson) Johnson. Dorothy lived her entire life in Wheaton. She was baptized on June 26, 1922 and later confirmed at Zion Covenant Church. Dorothy attended country school through 8th grade. On November 3, 1945, Dorothy was united in marriage to George O. Lupkes Jr. The couple enjoyed sixty two years of marriage. George passed away on December 28, 2007. They lived, farmed and raised their twelve children four miles east of Wheaton from 1947 until 1973 at which time they moved to Wheaton. In the late 1970s George and Dorothy started building a log cabin on Big Stone Lake. They loved the cabin and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. For many years Dorothy owned and operated an egg business in Wheaton. Dorothy started a small daycare in her home after her children had graduated high school. She always had a great love for kids. In her retirement, George and Dorothy enjoyed traveling. Dorothys favorite place to visit was Honolulu, Hawaii where her daughter Cheryl resides. Her favorite place to eat was D -Bar and Grille. Dorothy will be remembered for her love of family and friends. Letter writing was her passion. She especially enjoyed baking. She will be remembered for her love of music, especially Lawrence Welk. Her positive attitude could make a rainy day feel like sunshine. The world was a better place because she was in it! Dorothy passed away on May 1, 2012 at the Traverse Care Center in Wheaton. Dorothy is survived by twelve children: Lavonne (Thomas) Doll of Darwin, Minnesota; Kathleen (Daniel) Wagner of Rogers, Minnesota; Katherine Rabel; Janel (Curtis) Reiter of Darwin, Minnesota; Lyle Lupkes of Wheaton, Minnesota; Linette Lupkes of Anchorage, Alaska; Doreen (Thomas) Sherwood of Caldwell, Idaho; Jone (Doyle) Anderson of Morris, Minnesota; Cheryl (Glenn) Garcia of Honolulu, Hawaii; Dawn Julson of Wheaton, Minnesota; Joetta (Todd) Schmitz of Wheaton, Minnesota; and Jacqueline (Bruce) Strader of Wheaton, Minnesota; twenty-six grandchildren: Alan (Michelle) Doll, Renae Kane, Mark (Ruth) Wagner, Tamera (Ray) Ehlers, Adam (Jennifer) Reiter, Joel (Natalie) Reiter, Emily (Joshua) Mirra, Ryan, Celeste, George and Samuel Lupkes, Laura and Carl Warnock, Adriel (Cameron) Cook, Phillip Sherwood, Leah (Clark) Hendrickson, Ryan Anderson, Aaron (Jenny) Julson, Shea Julson, Erik, Reed and Luke Schmitz and Tyler, Grant, Cullen and Carra Strader; sixteen great-grandchildren: Damon Doll, Kaitlin and Luke Kane, Taylor and Savannah Ehlers, Nolan, Emmett and Hathaway Reiter, Tysen Reiter, Cadence and Alayna Cook, Parker, Maddox and Lucy Hendrickson, Zachary Julson and Hayden Strader. Dorothy is also survived by three sisters-in-law: Irene Kaul of Rochester, Minnesota; Francis (Earl) Borsheim of Wheaton, Minnesota and Mary (Fritz) Mueller of Madison, Minnesota, two brothers-in-law: Oscar (Merlita) Lupkes and Elmer (Dorothy) Lupkes both of Wheaton, Minnesota, and many nieces, nephews and extended family. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband George, parents: Carl Victor and Alma (Peterson) Johnson, mother and father"in-law Jennie and George Lupkes Sr., brother Lloyd (Violet) Johnson, brothers-in-law: Fred (Bernette) Lupkes and Ole (Caroline) Lupkes, sisters-in-law: Christina (Wendell) Hernvall, Hilka (Herman) Schmidtke, Jeanette (Einar) Olson and Tillie (Joe) Koci, son-in-law Victor Rabel, Grandson Mitchell Doll and Great-Grandchild Baby Ehlers.